It didn't take long into Thursday's matchup with Leto for the coach's confidence to pay dividends. In his first at-bat, Lawrence tripled, setting the pace in a 6-1 win. The Lions (9-0) are the only undefeated team in Hillsborough County.

Lawrence, who reached base three times, said he felt a sense of relief the moment the ball hit his bat on the triple. But he wasn't finished.

The 5-foot-8 sophomore hit his triple to left-centerfield. So when he stepped to the plate in the second inning, Leto (5-3) shifted its outfielders toward left-centerfield.

So he went right.

Lawrence sent a 3-and-2 pitch to right-centerfield, deep enough for a double that drove in Kobe Barnum.

"I noticed (the shift)," he said. "I had to use the whole field."

King left-hander Tyeler Checkley struck out seven and gave up six hits in six innings. The Falcons' only run — scored by Rodney Jackson on a Jonaton Alverez single to right — was unearned.

The Lions returned a lot of talent from last year's team, which reached its second state semifinal in four years. That included Lawrence, who hit .293. And when there's a deep fly ball, Macaluso said he never doubts he will be under it.

"We tell our pitchers … throw strikes and let them swing the bats," he said. "We're going to catch the ball for you."

Thursday, Macaluso had even more to smile about when it came to his quick centerfielder. Because once again, he was not just a threat in one phase of the game, but two.

"A lot of times, guys let (slumps) affect their defense, and then you're not helping at all. But he hasn't done that," Macaluso said. "And he swung the bat tonight, so that's all good."